Blantyre-based Pakistani national Muhammed Jawad faces arrest after Blantyre Magistrate’s Court has issued an arrest order for his failure to appear before court in criminal proceedings.

In Augusr 2015, Blantyre Magistrate’s Court convicted and fined Jawad , 26 K950 000 for illegal possession of foreign currency amounting to $269 970 (about K198 million at the current exchange rate) which was concealed in his travelling bag as he intended to travel to Dubai.

The money was found upon being searched at Chileka International Airport.

The court further ordered forfeiture of the money to government.

On April 28 2016 High Court judge Kenyatta Nyirenda ordered the central bank to refund the sum of $269 970 to Jawad.

But the central bank did not implement the court order which then prompted Pakistani through private practice lawyer Lusungu Gondwe to move the court to file a motion for order for committal to prison against Governor a the central bank’s general counsel and bank secretary Samuel Malitoni and legal officer Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda .

Jawad applied for the arrests of the RBM officials for contempt of court.

But central bank challenged the High Court ruling to refund Jawad his money, arguing that Judge Kenyatta Nyirenda did not properly apply the law to the facts and he misdirected himself.

And the Supreme Court halted the contempt of court proceedings and also stayed Judge Kenyatta Nyirenda’s order to have RBM pay back Jawad.

Jawad , who faced charges of money laundering, illegal possession of foreign currency and attempted transfer of the same outside the country, pleaded not guilty to money laundering, but pleaded guilty to illegal possession and attempting to transfer forex illegally out of the country.

He has been expected to appear before the court to testify in money laundering case but has not been reporting to court, prompting Reserve Bank of Malawi to seek the arrest warrant.

“The court has issued a warrant of arrest which has been given to Malawi Police to execute it,” said public prosecutor Thabo Chakaka, who is also Reserve Bank of Malawi lawyer.

Nyirenda said Police cannot trace Jawad but are still hunting for him.

He said Jawas was expected to appear before the court to defend himself on money laundering charges.

The court has also revoked Jawa’s bail and if arrested he will be remanded in prison

But Jawad’s lawyer Wanangwa Hara said his Pakistani was not at large, saying he will be available to defend himself in the case.

Jawad came to Malawi in 2009 from Pakistan and owns Pick and Buy Shop in Manja Township, Blantyre.